William guy andrew artha



Patented July. 24, 1928.

airs!) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MANUFACTURE OF METHYL EUGENOL.

No Drawing. Application filed October 20, 1927, Serial No. 227,627, and in Australia December 29, 1926.

. This invention consists in a process for obtaining methyl-eugenol from a natural substance which was not heretofore known as a commercial source of that product. In 6 the present state of knowledge its manufacture from other sources is costly and the product is little used though its valuable antiseptic properties are known. The present invention brings the manufacture of 10 methyl-eugenol into an economic range so that it can be produced in large quantities at reasonable cost.

The source of the product is the Wood of the Huon pine tree (Dacvydium frankliaii) I which is indigenous to the west of Tasmania.

The toppings and mill waste are utilized, the sawn timber having a superior value for joiners use.

The process consists in digesting this wood (which should be reduced to chips or crushed or milled to open up its structure), in a still by means of steam brought into a closed treatment vessel under pressure, and obtaining the methyl-eugenol from the condensate. Condensed Water separates from the methyleugenol in the condensate by gravitation. The time of treatment of each charge in the still is about twofhours, when a low pressure-10-20 lbs. per square inch is used, and it is convenient to deal with about a half ton of wood in each charge. The quantity of the product obtained is about four gallons from each half ton charge. The still is constructed of iron, but iron is not essential as the material of the structure, other appropriate structural material might be used. Condensation of the vaporous product is eflected in a water cooled worm into which it passes from the still continuously through a reducing valve or through a vent of small area. The still is supplied with live steam through perforations in a pi e coil which is placed in the bottom of the still; steam under pressure of 10 lbs. or more per square inch is supplied to this coil from a boiler. Pressures up to 100 lbs'of steam per square inch in the still are effective. At such higher pressures the extraction is hastened, so that substantially all the available product is obtained in from one to .two hours, and it is consequently preferred to operate with the higher pressure that is 60-100 lbs. per square 1nc The time of treatment may be correspondingly abridged when the wood is first reduced to sawdust or fine fragments.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The herein described manufacture of methyl-eugenol, which consists in subjecting the mill waste and toppings of Huon pine timber to the action of steam under pressure in a closed vessel for a period within about two hours educting and condensing the vapor, and separating water in the condensate from the product.

2. The manufacture of methyl-eugenol according to claim 1, in which the extraction of methyl-eugenol from the timber is effected by steam under pressure of 60 lbs. to 7 'lbs. (approximately) on the square inch in a closed treatment vessel for a period of one to two hours.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM GUY ANDREWARTHA. 

